Behind the Brand
Welcome to Behind the Brand — the heart and story behind Simply Samantha. This is where real life meets reflection, where I share the inspiration, lessons, and little pieces of life that have shaped who I am and what this space stands for. It’s about growth, gratitude, and finding beauty in the everyday — because simple living starts with staying true to your roots. Grab a coffee, settle in, and let’s go a little deeper together. ☕🌻
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Simply Samantha Is Growing 🌻
Two books. A new brand. An LLC. And somehow, this little idea of mine keeps growing. If you’ve been around Simply Samantha for a while, you know this space has never been about having everything perfectly figured out. It started as a place for me to share pieces of real life—the recipes, the garden, motherhood, things I love, things I’m learning, and the messy in-between parts that don’t always make it into the highlight reel. And lately? Things have been growing around here. Like… really growing. There have been a lot of little things happening behind the scenes over the last several weeks, and I finally get to sit down…
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Something New Is Growing 🌻 | Rooted & Rising Is Coming
🌻UPDATE: IT’S LIVE! 🌻Rooted & Rising: An Adult Coloring Book for Finding Joy in the Messy Middle is officially available on Amazon! 👉 Shop Rooted & Rising on Amazon There are some things you work on quietly for a while because you’re not quite ready to say them out loud. And then there are things that suddenly become very, very real. Like getting an email saying the actual book you created is on its way to your house. So…I guess it’s time to officially tell you. I made a coloring book. Like, an actual coloring book. It’s called Rooted & Rising: An Adult Coloring Book for Finding Joy in the…
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Hi, I’m Samantha — The Real Life Behind Simply Samantha 🌻
I figured it might be time to reintroduce myself. Whether you’ve been here since the beginning, stumbled across one of my recipes, found me through social media, or somehow landed here while searching for what to make for dinner — hi. I’m Samantha. And this is Simply Samantha. So, who is Samantha? That answer depends a little on the day. I’m a wife and a mom of three. I work full-time in health and wellness programming. I’ve spent more than 16 years serving in the South Dakota Army National Guard. I’m a homeowner, gardener, home cook, occasional DIY-er, and someone who is almost always trying to figure out what we’re…
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Life Lately & the Summer Chicken Salad I’m Loving ☀️🍑
It’s been a little quiet over here, but for good reason. The past few weeks have been filled with some additional National Guard duties, work travel, and trying to juggle all the everyday things in between. At home, we’ve had a little one who’s been sick more than healthy lately, and after a whirlwind of appointments, we’ve got surgery scheduled for next week. We’d definitely appreciate any and all positive thoughts for a smooth procedure and quick recovery. On the bright side, I’ve also been pouring my heart into something that’s been in the making for what seems like years… and I’m so close to finishing my book. I can…
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📚 What I’m Reading, Loving, and Learning Lately
This is one of those “behind the scenes of my life and brain” kind of posts—what I’m reading, what I’m loving, and what I’m learning in this season. We’re already a good month and a half into 2026, which honestly feels a little wild. This is usually the point in the year where people fall into one of three camps: No matter where you’re at—I’m here to remind you: you’re not behind, you’re not out, and you’re definitely not done. You can fall off the rails and get back on. There is absolutely nothing that says one rough week (or month) means the whole year is a wash. 📖 What…
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Behind the Brand: When Planning Meets Real Life
When Planning Isn’t Enough When you’re a planner—through and through—and life doesn’t allow the planning, it can feel incredibly unsettling. That’s been happening more and more for us this past year. It’s taken a lot of digging deep, choosing to keep going, and trying not to let it shake us too much. I keep telling myself that if I plan for consistency as much as possible, then maybe—just maybe—the seasons of inconsistency will feel a little more manageable. I’m not fully convinced. Some days, I still want to throw up my hands and say, “embrace the suck.”If you’ve never heard that phrase, it’s straight from the Army—and honestly, there’s some…
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🌻 Behind the Brand: Why the Sunflower
If you’ve spent even a little time here at Simply Samantha, you’ve probably noticed one thing that keeps showing up — the sunflower.It’s in my logo, my sign-off, even my home décor… and if you know me personally, you’ve likely seen it pop up in a few other places too.But it’s not just because I think they’re pretty (though, let’s be honest — they are!). The sunflower means something deeper to me, something that’s woven into the heart of who I am and what Simply Samantha stands for. ☀️ Turning Toward the Light Sunflowers naturally face the sun — they grow by following the light.That simple act reminds me that…
